Transfer wrap: Cisse to Lazio, Stoke near Cole deal

Lazio signed France international Djibril Cisse from Panathinaikos on Tuesday, while Hamburg joined the race for Nicklas Bendtner.

Cisse flew to Rome for a medical and hours later his transfer was complete, with Lazio reported to have paid Greek side Panathinaikos 5.3 million pounds for the 29-year-old.

The France forward, who has enjoyed stints with Sunderland, Marseille, Liverpool and Auxerre in the past, will join his new team-mates in pre-season training this week.

“Lazio have great quality now and we hope to show this on the pitch,” club president Claudio Lotito said. “All the players have quality and Cisse is eager to show all of his will to do well on the pitch.”

Meanwhile, Hamburg have joined the race for Nicklas Bendtner by admitting they are keen on the wantaway Arsenal striker, so long as the Gunners lower their asking price.

“Nicklas Bendtner is a very interesting player. His signing would be a real dream,” Hamburg Sporting Director Frank Arnesen told Hamburger Abendblatt.

“He can also be an attacking midfielder, playing behind the forwards.”

“(But) his signing would almost amount to a small miracle. There are two clubs that have made offers for Nicklas, and unfortunately, we are not among them.”

The 23-year-old was believed to have also attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund, however the Bundesliga champions distanced themselves from those reports on Tuesday.

Stoke City hit the headlines again with confirmation that their bid for Carlton Cole has been accepted by West Ham United, freeing them to talk personal terms with the England international.

“We have agreed a deal with West Ham, that’s done, it’s now about agreeing with Carlton and his agent,” Potters chairman Peter Coates told Sky Sports.

“He has got an injury problem and he’s always had that. That’s another risk you take, you have to factor that in, but he’s a good player and Tony (Pulis) has always liked him.”

Stoke signed ex-Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate on a free transfer on Monday.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp meanwhile trashed an improved 27-million-pound bid from Chelsea for Luka Modric.

“Obviously I still think 27 million is a poor offer for a player of that ability. In my opinion it would not be anywhere near what I would think he was valued at, if he was for sale – but he’s not for sale,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

“What I honestly value him at would be way more in excess of that, if you asked me honestly what I thought he was worth.”

“Even if they offered that, the chairman said he is not for sale. It’s a difficult situation and he’s such a great boy, he’s not a troublemaker and he’s come in and trained great today and that’s how he is.”